New measure would require insurers to cover fireproofed homes
A new measure is aiming to guarantee home insurance coverage for California home owners who harden their homes against fires. The consumer advocacy group, Consumer Watchdog, is planning on collecting signatures to put the measure on the 2026 ballot. The initiative comes at the same time a competing measure is seeking to repeal Proposition 103, which governs how property insurance works in the state. That proposition is what allows California to have a say in how much insurance companies are allowed to raise premiums. So what kinds of changes might we actually see in California’s home insurance space in the near future? Joining us to discuss is Levi Sugmagaysay, economy reporter for CalMatters, and Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog.
As a US-TikTok deal nears, what changes might users see under new ownership?
Tech giant Oracle will spearhead U.S. oversight of the algorithm and security underlying TikTok’s popular video platform under the terms of a deal laid out this week by President Donald Trump’s administration. All the final details still need to be nailed down among several joint venture partners that will include Oracle, investment firm Silver Lake Partners, and possibly two billionaires — media mogul Rupert Murdoch and personal computer pioneer Michael Dell. The U.S. administration would not have a stake in the joint venture nor be part of its board, according to a senior White House official. While money has yet to change hands, the ramifications are starting to become clear. So what kind of changes can users expect once TikTok becomes something of a US company? Joining us to discuss this next step in TikTok’s U.S. operations is Julia Powles, professor of law at UCLA and executive director for its Institute for Technology, Law & Policy, and Clare Duffy, tech writer for CNN Business.
With files from the Associated Press.
An economist's take on how women can get the most out of their lives
While women are increasingly participating in the labor force and achieving high professional status, the burden of domestic labor, emotional labor, and time pressures often remains disproportionately theirs. In her new book Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours, economist Corrine Low explores the ways women have tried to chase an impossible standard with the cards stacked against them. She also offers a diagnosis to the problem and tools to reclaim time, improve wellbeing and make choices that are more aligned with one’s values. She joins us on AirTalk today to discuss her new book.
Corinne Low will be at Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica on Monday, September 29th from 6 pm to 7 pm for a book signing event. Find tickets here.
Audiobooks are having a moment, but the industry also faces some threats
Audiobook sales are increasing and the pool of talented narrators is expanding. Advances in home technology and COVID-19 brought more wannabe narrators into the field, giving publishers and casters more options to cast voices that align with the characters they play. But the industry also faces threats, like that of A.I. taking away jobs. Another concern from voice actors is the more recent effort to always cast the “correct” voice for a role, and in doing so pigeonhole people into playing one “type.” Joining AirTalk today for a discussion on the industry and where it stands is Sean McManus, president of the Audio Publishers Association and Emily Lawrence, award winning narrator of more than 600 audiobooks and co-founder of the Professional Audiobook Narrators Association. We also want to hear from you about your take on listenable books. Is there an audiobook you particularly love? Which is it and why? Also, are you an audiobook narrator? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Triple Play: Robot umpires are coming to the MLB. How will that work?
Robot umpires are getting called up to the big leagues next season. Major League Baseball’s 11-man competition committee on Tuesday approved use of the Automated Ball/Strike System in the major leagues in 2026. Human plate umpires will still call balls and strikes, but teams can challenge two calls per game and get additional appeals in extra innings. Challenges must be made by a pitcher, catcher or batter — signaled by tapping their helmet or cap — and a team retains its challenge if successful. Reviews will be shown as digital graphics on outfield videoboards. Today on AirTalk, we discuss how these robot umpires might affect the challenging system and overall flow of the game. Joining us are Nick Roman, host of the podcast Roman on the Radio and former host of LAist’s All Things Considered, and A Martinez, host of NPR’s Morning Edition and Up First.
With files from Associated Press
Love at second sight, listeners share how a reconnected bond led to romance
Weeks back, The Washington Post reported that Oliver North and Fawn Hall, best known for their involvement in the Iran-Contra hearings, were married. Both individuals found themselves widowed, with North having been the most recent person to lose their partner. It was at the funeral of North’s wife of 56 years, Betsy, that he and Fawn Hall reconnected. The general arc of their relationship fits into a framework that many older couples find themselves in, having reconnected with a familiar face, only to find themselves falling in love at a later phase in their lives. That had us wondering about similar stories our listeners might have. So we want to hear from you: are you someone who’s married a friend, or a familiar face, later in life? Do you know someone who has gone through that experience? Tell us about it by calling 866-893-5722 or emailing us at atcomments@laist.com.
